Two Dwarf Mongooses Born At Lincoln Park Zoo
CHICAGO (STMW) -- Two tiny dwarf mongoose pups made their public debut recently at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The dwarf mongooses were born Nov. 19, though their mother kept them behind the scenes in a den for the next few weeks, according to a statement on the zoo's website.
The mongooses, which are small, burrowing carnivores, are the first born at the North Side zoo since 1998, the statement said.
In early December, the mother and her mate began carrying them out for the public to see, and soon after that, the pups began moving on their own, the statement said.
The pups are expected to reach up to 10 inches in length when they reach their adult size in May, the statement said. They spend their days napping, nursing, and eating insects and produce.
"You can often find the whole family cuddling together under the heat lamp at the top of their dual-level habitat. It's a cute sight," Kevin Bell, president of the zoo, said in the statement.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)